Tropical Storm Harold made landfall Tuesday on Padre Island in Texas on Tuesday morning, bringing the threat of heavy rain and strong winds to the state’s southernmost tip.
Harold makes landfall in Texas
Update 11:55 a.m. EDT Aug. 22: Officials with the National Hurricane Center said the center of Harold made landfall on Padre Island around 10 a.m. CDT. The storm, which has maximum sustained winds near 50 mph, is expected to weaken steadily before becoming a tropical depression later Tuesday.
10am CDT Tuesday 22 August -- Tropical Storm #Harold has made landfall in Padre Island, Texas. Maximum sustained winds at landfall are 50 mph with higher gusts.
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 22, 2023
Latest Advisory: https://t.co/3oYCopgXlE pic.twitter.com/o1CUDQznY0
Officials with the National Weather Service’s Houston office said the storm will have few impacts on southeast Texas.
10am Update: Tropical Storm Harold has made landfall over Padre Island, TX. For SE TX, impacts will remain minimal, but scattered showers and storms will continue throughout the day south of I-10 from its outer rain bands. #TXwx #HOUwx #GLSwx pic.twitter.com/OTxzpMJY1k
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) August 22, 2023
The National Hurricane Center said Harold could bring heavy rainfall and pose a flood risk.
10am CDT Tues 22 Aug Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Harold. The storm is making landfall in South Texas, associated with Tropical Storm conditions and heavy rainfall.https://t.co/3oYCopgXlE pic.twitter.com/djEs53C67A
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 22, 2023
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Original report: Harold had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph around 4 a.m. ET Tuesday. The center of the storm was about 155 miles east-southeast of Port Mansfield, Texas, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm was moving west-northwest at 18 mph.
As of 4 a.m. CT, the area was beginning to see rain and windy conditions. Heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds are expected over parts of South Texas after sunrise.
According to the NHC, the latest track will put the system making landfall south of Corpus Christi by midday. A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is expected along the mouth of the Rio Grande to Sargent, Baffin Bay, Corpus Christi and Matagorda Bay.
The NHC said Harold will dump 3 to 5 inches of rain across South Texas on Tuesday and into Wednesday.
While the storm is not forecast to become a hurricane, officials at the NHC said it is possible for Harold to strengthen some before making landfall.
